Scaffolding and span therefor



Nov. 25, 1952 w. J. s. JOHNSON 2,619,390

- SCAFFOLDING AND SPAN THEREFOR Filed May 51, 1950 INVENTOR. Mum J J. JdHA/idfi FIG-4 BY Patented Nov. 25, 1952 SCAFFOLDING AND SPAN THEREFOR Wallace J'. S. Johnson, Berkeley, Calif assig-nor to Up-Right, Inc., Berkeley, Calif., a corporation of California Application'May- 31, 1950, Serial No. 165,308

3 Claims.

This invention relates to scaifolding and spans therefor, and is particularly concerned with demountable scaffolding units which may be readily assembled to form a complete scaifolding and readily disassembled for storage and transporta-r tion.

Many forms of scaffolding within the purview of the above description have been suggested, and many have been accorded Widespread commercial success. One general problem which has confronted the manufacturer and user of such scaffolding is the provision of adequate bracing means by which the assembled units may be effectively secured against inadvertent dislocation of the units. A particular problem of this general type is the provision of adequate diagonal bracing means between parallel, vertical end units and cross members which unite such end units and retain them in their parallel, vertical relation. Another problem, kindred thereto, is the provision of adequate bracing means which may be conveniently folded for storage or transportation. Frequently such bracing devices are separate instrumentalities which must be repeatedly stored and transported and are frequently and easily misplaced. A further difiiculty of scaifolding now available for commercial use is the absence of adequate securing means which may be readily secured and released to permit assembly and disassembly of the. parts.

It is among the objects of the present invention to provide a novel, simple, practical, efficient and effective scaffolding formed of separable units which may be readily assembled and disassembled.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a scaifolding unit having formed as an inseparable part thereof novel and improved bracing means by which individual units of the scafiolding may be retained in erected position against accidental displacement thereof.

A further object of the present invention is to provide foldable bracing means for a scaffolding unit which forms a permanent instrumentality thereof and which may be conveniently moved from operative to inoperative position.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a telescopic brace member for a scaffolding unit which may be collapsed for movement to the plane of the surrounding elements of the unit to facilitate storage and which may be conveniently moved and extended for operation of such member as a diagonal brace in the assembled scaffolding.

More specifically, it is among the objects of the present invention to. provide a novel and improved cross means or platform section for a scaffolding, which means has incorporated therewith, as a permanent instrumental-ity thereof, bracing members adapted to engage supporting elements in order to retain various units in erected relation.

Another object of the present invention is to provide convenient means by which a diagonal brace of the character set forth may be releasably secured in various stages of telescopic position for bracing action or in collapsed position to facilitate storage and also. tto provide readily releasable means for securing the brace in either parallel or diagonal position with respect to, associated units.

Numerous other objects and features of the present invention will be apparent from a consideration of the following specification, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of one preferred embodiment of the invention, showing the scaffolding assembled and erected for use.

Fig. 2 is a sectional View taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a transverse section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the cross member or platform section of the scaffolding shown in Fig. 1, w th the diagonal brace in inoperative, folded position.

In general terms, the scafiold of the present invention may be defined as comprising a pair of end members adapted to be arranged in vertical, parallel position and to be united and secured in such position by a cross member. The invention includes the provision of diagonal bracing members pivotally supported to one of the units which may be swung to diagonal position to engage a comp-anion unit in order to sustain and brace the assembly in the position shown in Fig. 1. An important feature of the present invention is the telescopic characteristics of the diagonal brace member, by which it may be moved and retained in various telescopic positions to vary its longitudinal extension whereby it may be adiusted to selectively engage various elements of a companion scaffold structure. Another important feature of the present invention is the provision of means whereby the diagonal bracing member may be pivotally moved to lie in the plane of its associated scaffold member, together with means by which it may be readily secured in such position.

The specific means by which the diagonal bracing member may be releasably secured against accidental displacement with respect to associated scaffold units or in folded position in the plane of its own unit, together with means by which the telescopic extension of the member may be retained after adjustment thereof, forms the subject matter of my co-pending application, Serial No. 774,038, filed September 15, 1947, entitled Portable Scaffolding Unit, and my copending joint application with Newell T. Partch, Serial No. 17,688, filed March 29, 1948, now abandoned, entitled Interlock Clip Device. Reference may be had to such applications for consideration of the details of construction of such elements, and the application of such elements to other types of scaffolding. The present invention is, however, concerned with the combination of such elements in a scaffold unit of the character herein set forth.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, that form of the invention here shown by way of illustration includes a pair of ladder-like, end members generally indicated by the numerals If! and H. Each end member comprises forward and rear vertical corner posts l2 and I3, respectively, together with a plurality of transverse ladder-like bars I4 which are suitably spaced, preferably at equal intervals longitudinally between the corner members I2 and I3. The end members If and [I may be formed of various types of material but, for lightness and strength of construction, they are here illustrated as being formed of tubular material, which may be suitably welded to form the ladder-like end members as shown.

In the assembled scaffolding here shown, members ID and l are joined by cross span or bridge comprising parallel side members |5 joined intermediate their ends by spaced, transverse cross pieces lb. The material for construction of the side members I5 and cross pieces I6 is also preferably of tubular material as referred to with respect to the construction of the end members I and H.

For securing the span, formed by the side members l and cross pieces l6, between the end members l0 and II the ends of the side members l5 are formed with end hooks H. The inner curvature of the end hooks I1 is in conformity with the outside diameter of the bars H in such manner as to be readily received and retained on such bars. The transverse spacing of the members I5 is preferably such as to dispose the end hooks closely adjacent the corner posts l2 and I3 so as to preclude accidental transverse movement of the span with respect to the end members. To further preclude accidental displacement of the span with respect to end members, there is preferably provided a resilientlyurged securing pin l8 adjacent the inner end of each curved hook. The construction and operation of the securing pin is in accordance with the disclosure in my co-pending application Serial No. 774,038 hereinbefore referred to and will be further described in detail in conjunction with the diagonal brace member hereinafter described.

Permanently and pivotally mounted on each cross piece I 6 and equally spaced from each side member l5, and thus equally spaced from each other, there is provided a pair of telescopic diag onal brace members generally indicated by the numeral and disclosed in structural detail more specifically in Fig. 2. Each member 20 includes an inner shaft or mandrel 2|, one end of which is formed with a circular end 22 which is adapted to be mounted on one of the cross bars 16 and to be pivotally secured thereon for free swinging motion without transverse displacement by pins 23 or equivalent projections which extend from the surface of the cross bars H5 and embrace the opposite sides of the head 22. Telescopically mounted on each of the mandrels 2|, there is provided an external cylindrical tubular section 24, the outer end of which is provided with a head 25 formed with a hook similar to the hook ends I? of the members IS. The tubular section 24 is snugly fitted about the mandrel 2| and is normally free for telescopic movement with respect thereto.

For securement of the tubular section 24 and mandrel 2| in adjusted telescopic relation, the mandrel is provided with transverse apertures 26, which may be brought into registration with transverse apertures 27 (see Fig. 3) in the section 2| and, upon such alignment, a pin 28 carried. by a spring clip 29 may be inserted through the registering apertures in such manner as to retain the sleeve and mandrel in telescopically adjusted relation. As will be noted, the location of the apertures 26 and 21 is preferably such that they will register at predetermined points in telescopic relation of the parts, so as to retain the tubular section and mandrel in various desired telescopic positions. With respect to the construction and operation of the clips in securing the parts in their telescopically adjusted relation, further reference may be had to my co-pending joint application with Newell T. Partch, Serial No. 17,688, now abandoned, above referred to. in which a similar clip is disclosed in connection with the retention of similar parts of scaffoldngs of a diferent nature.

As will be more particularly noted in Fig. 4, the collapsed length of the diagonal members 20, when the shaft or mandrel is substantially fully withdrawn within the section 2|, is such as to equal the distance between the cross pieces l8 and in such adjusted position the clip 29 may be in serted through suitably arranged registering apertures in the sleeve and shaft to retain the member in such telescopic relation. With the diagonal members 20 so collapsed, it will be seen that the hooked ends 25 of the diagonal members will be located in direct registration with the opposite cross piece l6 and thus, when so arranged, the hooked end may be engaged with the opposite cross pieces and releasably secured thereto so as to cause the diagonal member to lie parallel with and in the plane of the side members I5.

For securing the hooked arm 25 in engagement with the cross pieces l6, or in engagement with the ladder bars I4 of the end members, as hereinafter described, the resiliently-urged mem ber H3 is provided. Member |8 consists of a finger normally urged outwardly by a spring 30 located within a recess 3| formed in the inner end of the head 25. It will readily be seen that the member l8 may be thrust inwardly when the hooked end is passed over a companion member, such as the bar I4 or cross piece It. After reception of the companion member within the hooked portion, the spring 30 will eject the member I8 outwardly to engage the outer surface of the companion member and secure the hook in position. For further reference to the construction and operation of such securing means, reference may be had to my companion application identified by Serial No. 774,038, referred to above.

When the units of the present invention are to be assembled, the end members are placed in vertical position and the span is mounted with its hooked ends I! engaging a selected parallel pair of transverse ladder bars M. In so mounting the span, the hooked ends I? engage the bars by resting thereupon and the spring-urged retainers I-B act to preclude accidental displacement of the hooked members with the bars. As hereinbefore noted, the side members l5 are preferably spaced apart a distance equal to the distance between the internal, opposite faces of the end members l2 and I3 so as to preclude accidental, transverse movement of the span. With the span so arranged between the end members, the diagonal members are moved to release their hooked ends from engagement with the companion cross pieces l6 and are pivotally moved with respect to their supporting members It to extend diagonally outwardly and downwardly from the plane of the span and are engaged with a selected lower bar I it of the end members, as shown by the full-line position of Fig. 1.

The telescopic length of the members is adjusted by releasing the clip 29 and telescopically moving the mandrel 24 and section 2| until the desired extension is accomplished. As will be noted by dotted lines of Fig. 1, the diagonal member may be adjusted to engage any selected one of the lower cross bars Id of the end members. In so arranging the device, the location of the apertures 26 and 21 is such that the clip 29 may be adjusted to secure any desired telescopic extension between the parts of the diagonal brace. With the longitudinal extension of the braces properly adjusted, ends 25 thereof are located in engagement with the selected transverse bars [4, the end members being forced into position against the tension of the spring 30 acting on the retainer [3. Upon seating of the hooked ends securely over the bars I4, the spring acts to force the retainer 18 in engagement with the bar Hi to secure the diagonal brace in adjusted position.

In that form of the invention herein disclosed, there is provided a platform which may be secured in any desired manner in the sides P5 of the span. It will be understood, however, that the provision of such platform is not essential and, where a plurality of assembled units of the character shown are arranged in superposed position one on top of the other to extend the total scaffolding vertically, such members are not required. It will also be noted that while the invention is here shown as providing for pivotal mounting of the diagonal members to extend downwardly from the span in order to engage bars M below the span, the invention contemplates the extension of such members upwardly when the platform 35 is not provided. It will also be noted that, while the preferred form of the invention herein disclosed shows the diagonal members as permanently pivoted upon the cross pieces !6 of the span unit, such members can be permanently mounted for pivotal movement on the bars IA of the end members and be adjusted with such minimum length as to extend between two adjacent bars i4 so as to be secured therebetween for storage and transportation purposes in the same manner as they are here disclosed as extending between the cross pieces I6 of the span.

From the foregoing, it will be readily seen that the present invention provides a novel, simple and improved span unit for a scaffolding member, which unit includes therewith permanently mounted diagonal extension pieces provided for telescopic movement and which are engageable with adjacent elements of their supporting member to be retained in parallel relation therewith for storage and transportation purposes. Such pieces may also be readily moved to extend diagonally from the unit to engage adjacent elements of the assembled scafiold. As hereinbefore noted, the invention contemplates the provision of means by which the telescopic adjustment of the parts of the diagonal bracing may be precluded from accidental displacement, and further provides means by which the hooked ends of the diagonal braces may beretained against accidental displacement from either the collapsed position in engagement with companion elements of their own unit or against accidental displacement from bracing engagement with elements. of companion units.

It will, of course, be understood that the invention is not confined to the specific structural details herein shown and that numerous changes and modifications and the full use of equivalents may be resorted to in the practice of the invention without departing from the spirit or scope thereof as outlined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I .claim and desire to obtain by Letters Patent is:

1. A scaffolding unit adapted to extend between, fit onto and afford mutual support to a pair of spaced upright ladder members, comprising a horizontal platform member of generally rectangular configuration, said platform member including a pair of parallel side members and parallel cross members joining the parallel side members at spaced points intermediate the ends thereof, means on the ends of the platform member for detachable attachment to opposed rungs on the ladder members, and a pair of braces mounted at one set of ends respectively on said cross members fo swinging movement through laterally spaced, vertical planes and having means n their other set of ends for detachable attachment to rungs lower on the ladder members, and being swingable past one another to positions against the under side of the platform member when detached from the rungs to provide a compact platform unit for storage, said braces being telescopic to enable them to be extended to fit onto the lower rungs of the ladder members and thereafter be retracted for storage under the platform member with the means on their other set of ends engaging the cross members to enable the braces to be secured in their stored or collapsed positions.

2. A scaffolding unit adapted to extend between, fit on and afford mutual support to a pair of spaced upright ladder members, comprising a horizontal platform member of generally rectangular configuration, said platform member including a pair of spaced parallel cross members, hook means on the ends of the platform member for detachable attachment to opposed rungs on the ladder members, a pair of braces mounted at one set of ends respectively on said cross members for swinging movement through laterally spaced vertical planes and having hook means on their other set of ends for detachable attachment to rungs lower on the ladder members, and being swingable past one another to positions against the under side of the platform member when detached from the rungs to provide a compact platform unit for storage, said braces being telescopic to enable them to be extended to fit onto the rungs of the ladder member and thereafter be retracted for storage under the platfoim member with the hook means on said other set of ends engaging the cross members to enable the braces to be secured in their stored or collapsed positions, and means for releasably holding the braces in their extended condition.

3. A scaffolding unit adapted to extend between, fit on and afford mutual support to a pair of spaced upright ladder members, comprising a horizontal platform member of generally rectangular configuration, said platform member including a pair of spaced parallel cross members, snap hook means on the ends of the platform member for detachable attachment to opposed rungs on the ladder members, a pair of braces mounted at one set of ends respectively on said cross members for swinging movement through laterally spaced vertical planes and having snap hook means on their other set of ends for detachable attachment to rungs lower on the ladder members, and being swingable past one another to positions against the under side of the platform member when detached from the rungs to provide a compact platform unit for storage, said braces being telescopic to enable them to be extended to fit onto the rungs of the ladder member and thereafter be retracted for storage under the platform member with the snap hook means on said other set of ends engaging the cross members to enable the braces to be secured in their stored or collapsed positions, and means for releasably holding the braces in their extended condition. WALLACE J. S. JOHNSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 840,636 Lillow Jan. 8, 1907 957,880 Harrington May 17, 1910 991,565 Valentine May 9, 1911 1,487,497 'Whewell Mar. 18, 1924 1,593,945 Macklem July 27, 1926 2,354,906 Bailey Aug. 1, 1944 

